CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — We are getting new details about a police chase and hostage situation that happened Thursday.
San Patricio County Sheriff Oscar Rivera said his deputies were dispatched when Live Oak County Sheriff's Office requested assistance in a police chase happening on I37 toward Corpus Christi.
Law enforcement officials were following a gold Jeep with Oklahoma license plates and learned that the driver possibly kidnapped his wife and child and was armed with a gun, Rivera said.
The suspect then made contact with officers through 911.
"The driver called our 911 center and told our dispatcher to have our units back up because he was armed with a gun and a bomb," Sheriff Rivera posted to Facebook. "He told us he wanted to 'see the ocean.' "
Around 5:31 p.m., Corpus Christi police officers were called to assist.
Tire spikes were laid out on the 4200 block of Baldwin where the vehicle came to a stop. That's when the man entered the nearby Jalisco's restaurant, taking the child inside as a hostage. The female was able to escape.
Witnesses said that whenever the man entered the restaurant, he pulled out his firearm and demanded that everyone exit.
Police surrounded the restaurant as the SWAT and Hostage Negotiation Team were called to help. According to Interim Police Chief David Blackmon, the suspect ended up shooting himself after a three hour standoff.
Police said SWAT members would then enter the building to secure the child and administer life-saving efforts to the man. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he is said to be in critical condition.
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